Apple on Thursday confirmed that it will bring all of the app ecosystem changes it has made to iOS in the European Union to iPadOS in the fall. Apple is making the move after the European Commission announced that it is defining iPadOS as a gatekeeper platform under its Digital Markets Act.
The European Commission in September designated Apple as a gatekeeper for its iPhone operating system, iOS, its Safari web browser, and its App Store. That same day, the EC opened an investigation into iPadOS to asses whether the operating system constitutes an important gateway for business users to reach end users in order to assess whether should be designated as a gatekeeper.
The EC in late April announced that its investigation had ended, and the Commission’s investigation found that Apple “presents the features of a gatekeeper in relation to iPadOS.”
To be classified as a “gatekeeper” under the EU’s DMA, a company must have sales across the EU of at least €7.5 billion or a market capitalization of €75 billion or above. Platforms or services must have more than 45 million monthly active users and over 10,000 active business users annually within the European Union.
Companies that do not adhere to the new regulations risk investigations, substantial fines, and the imposition of “behavioral or structural remedies.” Fines can amount to as much as 10% of a company’s global revenue, with a 20% penalty for repeat violations.
Apple was presented with a six-month deadline to fully comply with the obligations set by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This means Apple will likely make changes in iPadOS as it did in iOS, including alternative app marketplaces, web distribution, and alternative browsers.
EU developers will soon be able to distribute iPad apps outside of the App Store using alternative app marketplaces or websites, and all of the same terms will apply.
(Via MacRumors)